Applications are invited from undergraduate students for a funded three-month internship position in the area of road traffic congestion sensing.

It is becoming increasingly common for mobile phone handsets to be equipped with GPS positioning functionality as standard. This project will investigate the use of such handsets as a form of sensor network to monitor road traffic congestion in the Dublin city area. This will build on an existing deployment of handsets and involve, amongst other things, development of efficient techniques for online and offline statistical analysis of traffic measurements, novel approaches to web presentation of traffic information using the google maps API and efficient presentation on Nokia Series 60 mobile handsets using SVG-based graphics.

Applicants should good software skills, with some familiarity of the google maps API, SVG and mobile handset programming helpful. Good numerate and analytic skills will be essential.

To apply, candidates should submit a detailed CV and the names and addresses of two referees for letters of recommendation to: hamilton@nuim.ie. Informal enquiries to Prof. Doug Leith (doug.leith@nuim.ie)

Applications are invited by well-qualified applicants for an MSc position in the area of quality of service provisioning in 802.11 wireless networks to support multi-player games.

Online gaming is one of the most rapidly increasing sources of traffic in the modern internet. A key feature of multi-player games is the requirement for low latency to allow real-time interaction between players. A second major trend is the increasing use of an 802.11 wireless link as the last hop in homes. The recent 802.11e standard allows traffic classes to be distinguished and prioritised differently. The networking group at the Hamilton Institute has been at the forefront of 802.11e development, including development of the first public 802.11e testbed and of some of the first accurate analytic models capturing the behaviour of real traffic over 802.11e links. This project will build on this to investigate the use of 802.11e (and 802.11n) functionality to meet the quality of service requirements of online games over wireless links. This will require meeting a number of key challenges, including not only the tight delay requirements of games traffic but also 802.11 MAC related issues. The project will also explore linking of 802.11 MAC level resource allocation decisions to higher level policy-driven network management.

Applicants should have good numerate and analytic skills and an understanding of IP networking. Some familiarity with the configuration and use of Linux or BSD systems and of scripting and programming will be helpful since the project wll involve demonstration of developed techniques on our 802.11 wireless testbed.

The Hamilton Institute is committed to research excellence. This post offers an exciting opportunity for successful candidates to tackle fundamental research problems within a stimulating multi-disciplinary research environment with state of the art facilities and strong links to the international research community.

MSc Stipend: €21000 (tax free)

To apply, candidates should submit a detailed CV, transcripts of undergraduate grades, motivation letter, and the names and addresses of two referees for letters of recommendation to: hamilton@nuim.ie. Informal enquiries to Prof. Doug Leith (doug.leith@nuim.ie)

Applications are invited by well-qualified applicants for a PhD position in the area of dynamic routing and coding for 802.11 wireless networks.

Wireless networks are fundamentally different from wired networks in a number of respects. A key difference is that transmissions are inherently broadcast in nature. We are interested in taking advantage of this to develop powerful new approaches for dynamically routing packets through multi-hop wireless networks. By opportunistically exploiting reception of packets at neighbouring stations, initial tests indicate that gains of x5 or greater in network capacity can potentially be achieved. However, it is not sufficient to consider just capacity, but also quality of service and so our interest is in development optimal algorithms that meet specified quality of service constraints. There is an intimate interaction between broadcast transmission and the choice of coding used. Joint design of routing and coding is therefore also expected to play a key role. Fountain codes and related methods, are very natural in this context.

The candidate should hold a BSc in Engineering/CS or a related field, and have strong analytic skills. Some background in networking, optimisation, and/or coding theory is desirable but not essential.

More information on the networking group at the Hamilton Institute is available at www.hamilton.ie/netlab/. The Hamilton Institute is committed to research excellence. These posts offer an exciting opportunity for successful candidates to tackle fundamental research problems within a stimulating multi-disciplinary research environment with state of the art facilitiesand strong links to the international research community.

Stipend: €21000 (tax free)

To apply, candidates should submit a detailed CV, motivation letter, and the names and addresses of two referees for letters of recommendation to: hamilton@nuim.ie. Informal enquiries to Prof. Doug Leith (doug.leith@nuim.ie).

Applications are invited by well-qualified applicants for an MSc
position in the areas of IPv6 testbed development and testing of
new TCP congestion control variants.

TCP is known to perform poorly in high bandwidth-delay product paths
and this has led to a number of proposals for redesign of the
congestion control strategy, including Cubic TCP (currently enabled
by default in Linux), Compound TCP (proposed by Microsoft and under
review at the IRTF) and H-TCP (proposed by researchers at the
Hamilton Institute and implemented in Linux). This project will
build on initial evaluation work carried out at the Hamilton Institute
with a view to enhancing our understanding of the new issues raised
by these, and other, proposed changes and taking an active role in
the current IRTF/IETF review process.

IPv6 is a replacement for the Internet’s transport layer, which has
been developed by the IETF over the last 15 years. A number of
standards now make use of IPv6, including the Internet Messaging
System (IMS). The Hamilton Institute is to provide and support IPv6
test-bed connectivity between the partners of the IMS ARCS
(www.ims-arcs.ie).

Applicants should have a basic understanding of IP networking and
should have some familiarity with the configuration and use of Linux
or BSD systems. Good numerate and analytic skills will be essential,
and the candidate should be comfortable with scripting and programming.

The Hamilton Institute is committed to research excellence. These
posts offer an exciting opportunity for successful candidates to
tackle fundamental research problems within a stimulating multi-
disciplinary research environment with state of the art facilities
and strong links to the international research community.

MSc Stipend: €21000 (tax free)

To apply, candidates should submit a detailed CV, motivation letter,
and the names and addresses of two referees for letters of
recommendation to: hamilton@nuim.ie. Informal enquiries to Prof.
Doug Leith (doug.leith@nuim.ie) or Dr. David Malone (david.malone@nuim.ie).

Applications are invited for a number of PhD positions at the Hamilton Institute. Candidates should have an outstanding academic record.

We currently have opportunities in the following areas:

• 802.11 Wireless Networks
  Topics of interest include Interference management, oppportunistic routing and throughput optimisation in multi-hop wireless mesh networks. Cross-layer interactions between link adaptation, MAC scheduler, routing and transport layers and related topics.

• TCP & Network Congestion Control
  Applicationof dynamics systems theory to internet and related network congestion control problems. This includes decentralised design and adaptation techniques for TCP; stability, convergence, efficiency and fairness issues; novel protocols for heterogeneous networks including wireless links. Also th development of new models and measurement techniques tailored including design of network experiments; dynamic modelling for TCP design.

• Hybrid Systems Theory
  Analysis and design of hybrid and switched linear systems. This includes both computational and analytical methodsand we are especially interested inapplications to adaptive/reconfigurableand heterogeneous systems.

• Control issues in distributed systems
  There are a range of theoretical and practical issues in the cooperative control of a distributed system of vehicles, such as platoons of cars, UAVs etc. In particular, limited communications imposes some restrictions on the ability to achieve high control performance in a large distributed group of vehicles. There are a number of open research problems in this research area connecting control and communications.

• Bipedal Walking Dynamics and Control
  Motivated by problems in RoboCup soccer, we wish to research, implement and test algorithms for highly agile, flexible, yet robust motion systems for bipedal walking. This includes examination of appropriate control system architectures, modelling and design of ‘low-level’ reaction feedback mechanisms, gait design, and transitions between different modes of operation.

• Systems Biology – Networks and Dynamics
  Systems Biology is a broad field of study with a range of application areas. Within this field, studies of the dynamics of networks of bio-molecular reactions is of interest. These studies aim to give a deeper mathematical foundation to enhance our understanding of biological processes such as cell signalling networks; metabolic systems etc.

The Hamilton Institute is committed to research excellence. These posts offer an exciting opportunity for successful candidates to tackle fundamental research problems within a stimulating multi-disciplinary research environment with state of the art facilities and stronglinks to the international research community.
PhD Stipend: €21000 (tax free)

To apply, candidates should submit a detailed CV, motivation letter, and the names and addresses of three referees for letters of recommendation to: hamilton@nuim.ie. Informal enquiries to Prof. Doug Leith (doug.leith@nuim.ie) or Prof. Robert Shorten (robert.shorten@nuim.ie)

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position in the Systems Biology Group of the Hamilton Institute at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. The vacancy is in the area of modelling and analysis of metabolic and cell signalling systems, with particular emphasis on developing mathematical models of the brain energy metabolism.
A key theme of the Systems Biology activity at the Hamilton Institute is ‘A Systems Understanding of Neurodegeneration’, and gaining insights into the mechanisms of brain energy metabolism is essential to advancing our knowledge in this area. The advertised position fits naturally into this programme through its focus on the development of mathematical models of metabolic trafficking between neurons and astrocytes, based on real-time in-vivo concentration measurements. Working in close collaboration with experimentalists in Maynooth and Oxford, the overall aim of the project is to develop quantitative models that can help test biological hypotheses concerning the mechanisms by which the brain acquires and uses energy.

The candidate should hold a PhD in Engineering/Applied Mathematics or a related field, and have a sound scientific record in the area of mathematical modelling. Some degree of familiarity with modelling biological or medical processes would be an advantage. Good communication, interpersonal and presentation skills are required. In addition, the candidate should be a team player who is capable of working with a minimum of supervision.

A contract of up to 2 years duration will be offered to the successful candidate with salary in the band 40,000 to 48,000 Euros per annum.

The Hamilton Institute is an inclusive, equal opportunity employer offering attractive conditions and a stimulating research environment.

For further information on the Hamilton Institute, please also refer to the following website: http://www.hamilton.ie. Further information can be obtained from Peter Wellstead (peter.wellstead@nuim.ie).

To apply for this post, candidates should submit a detailed CV, including a list of publications, motivation letter, a summary of recent projects, scientific interests and expertise, as well as the names and addresses of two referees for letters of recommendation to: hamilton@nuim.ie. The closing date for applications is 28th August 2007.

Applications are invited for a number of summer intern positions at the Hamilton Institute, National University of Ireland Maynooth. These positions are suited to third or fourth year students and are a minimum of three months duration. Projects include

1. High-Speed TCP.
TCP is the main transport protocol in the internet, carrying around 95% of traffic (including email, www, media downloads etc). It is currently undergoing a period of rapid change and our interest is both in algorithm development and in the development of test and evaluation frameworks for the Linux operating system. This will be supported by OSDL (Open Source Development Lab) in Seattle and will require good C/C++ programming skills (although experience of kernel programming is not needed) and some knowledge of computer networks would be helpful. If time permits, the project will also include involvement in larger-scale evaluation tests in a wide-area testbed including sites in Europe and the US.

2. Wireless LAN channel selection.
The trend is towards increasingly dense 802.11 wireless LAN deployments. A key challenge, however, in dense deployments is inteference management. The aim of this project is to implement a prototype dynamic channel allocation algorithm on 802.11 wireless hardware. This will require device driver software development together with some firmware software development to access to radio channel quality measurements. This project is supported by Intel and will require good C/C++ programming skills.

3. QoS and link provisioning.

4. Systems Biology

Contact Prof. Douglas Leith for further details.